Fethiye: Turkey’s ‘Little Britain'–residential tourists’ identity and relationships

Abstract

This paper examines the Turkish resort town of Fethiye’s large British population of permanent residents, who have added to the physical and cultural character of the town. To understand why these individuals decided to relocate to Fethiye, and what their lives are like in the town, 17 semi-structured interviews with British residential tourists were conducted. The paper reveals a complex identity paradox, where many feel that the stigma surrounding the term ‘expat’, and what it means to be a ‘Brit abroad’, has impacted their identity, relationships and judgement of fellow residential tourists. The study also uncovers the motivational characteristics for their relocation, from which a strong financial element towards the choice of Turkey was revealed. Host–guest relationships are also explored, revealing largely positive attitudes towards the Turkish community.